Drive gear throw-out for barn cleaner



Nov. 19, 1957 w. H. STUEBS 2,813,434

DRIVE GEAR THROW-OUT FOR BARN CLEANER Filed Sept. 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Walter H. Sfuebs INVENTOR.

Nov. 19, 1957 w. H. STUEBS DRIVE GEAR THROW-OUT FOR BARN CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1955 Walter H. .Sfuebs INVENTOR. 16 z BY %E DRIVE GEAR THROW-OUT FOR BARN CLEANER Walter H. Stuebs, West Kewaunee, Wis.

Application September 27, 1955, Serial No. 536,910

1 Claim. (Cl. 74-405) This invention generally relates to an improved barn cleaning device, and specifically provides a drive gear throw-out mechanism for automatically stopping the winch mechanism employed for pulling the barn gutter cleaning plows, wherein the plows may be returned for subsequent cleaning of the barn gutter. v

An object of the present invention is to provide a throw out mechanism for barn gutter cleaning devices whereby the winch mechanism utilized in pulling the conveying mechanism for cleaning the barn gutters will be disconnected automatically when the barn cleaning conveying mechanism is pulled to its innermost position and will remain disengaged until such time as the device is manually thrown into gear by releasing a portion of the mechamsm.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a drive gear throw-out mechanism for barn gutter cleaners including a gearing assembly pivotally mounted on a support wherein a portion of the pulling cable will be utilized to pivot one of the gears out of engagement with the winch drum gear, thereby de-energizing or stopping the winch drum and permitting unwinding of the pulling cable therefrom.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, automatic actuation, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive maintenance costs.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the construction of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail side elevational view showing the mechanism in disengaged or thrown out position; and

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating further structural details of the pivotal frame and the gears supported thereon.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the power device for a barn gutter cleaner including a pull cable 12 to which the barn gutter cleaning plows are attached. The power device 10 generally includes a rectangular frame 14 having oppositely disposed brackets 16 for supporting remote ends of a shaft or rod 18 on which is rotatably mounted a winch drum or spool 20 upon which the cable 12 is wound and unwound. An enlarged winch gear 22 is connected to the drum 20 for driving rotation thereof. A friction device 24 may be employed for engaging the edge of the drum 20 to provide frictional resistance to the rotation of the drum 20 thereby assuring that the cable 12 will not become fouled due to free rotation of the drum 20. A drive shaft 26 is provided with a nited States Patent 2,813,434 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 V-belt' pulley 28 together with a V-belt 30 for driving the mechanism as described hereinafter, and any suitable power source may be employed wherein the motor or similar device employed is not shown.

Disposed forwardly of the brackets 16 is a pair of bearing brackets 32 mounted on the upper surface of the frame members 14 and in which is journaled a transverse rod or shaft 34. The drive shaft 34 is provided with a V-belt pulley 36 in alignment with the V-belt pulley 28 for receiving the endless V-belt 30 for driving the shaft 34. Exteriorly of the frame 14 is: provided a sprocket chain 38 together with a sprocket gear 40 for driving the sprocket chain 38 for providing power for the conveying mechanism.

Attached to the shaft 34 with the shaft 34 rotatably journaled thereon is a pair of frame members 42 and 44, having a transverse connecting rod 46 at the lower end thereof together with an enlarged roller 48 in spaced relation to the connecting rod 46. The cable 12 passes between the rod 46 and the roller 48, as it proceeds to the drum 20 wherein the rod 46 will be in the path of movement of an abutment stop member 52 secured to the cable 12 wherein engagement of the stop member 52 with the transverse rod 46 will cause pivotal movement of the side frame members 42 and 44 about an axis formed by the shaft34 substantially as illustrated in dotted linesin Figure 4.

. Disposed in spaced relation to the side frame members 44 is another frame member 54 coextensive therewith and the transverse rod 56 is provided between the two, and the transverse rod 56 extends on between the frame members 42 and 44 for journaling the roller 48 thereon, wherein the roller 48 permits easier movement of the cable 12 when it is being unwound from the drum 20. The frame member 54 is also pivotally journaled on the transverse shaft 34 and a drive gear 58 is mounted on the shaft 34 between the frame members 54 and 44. A rod 60 extends between the upper free ends of the frame members 44 and 54 and projects beyond the frame members 54 laterally thereof in spaced parallel relation to the shaft 34. An idler gear 62 is journaled on the rod 60 and is in constant meshing engagement with the drive gear 58 attached to the shaft 34 and is normally in meshing engagement with the bull gear or winch gear 22 which drives the drum 20, thereby winding the cable 12 thereon.

Pivotally mounted on the bracket 16 adjacent the gear 22 is a latch bar 64 pivotally mounted on a fastening member 66 and including a notch 68 on the lower edge thereof adjacent the outer end for receiving the extension portion of the rod 60. The outer free end of the latch bar 64 is provided with an aperture 70 to which is attached a flexible line 72 which passes over a pulley 74 and proceeds to a point remote from the driving mechanism 10 for lifting the latch bar 64 upwardly to disengage the latch bar 64 from the rod 60.

A tension coil spring 76 is attached at one end to the frame 14 and attached at the other end to the free end of the rod 60 thereby continuously urging the idler gear 62 into meshing engagement with the winch gear 22 for driving the same.

In practical operation of the invention, the winch 20 is driven through the shaft 34, drive gear 58, idler gear 62 and winch gear 22 for winding the cable 12 thereon. When the abutment stop member 52 engages the rod or bar 46, the subframe assembly formed by the frame members 42, 44 and 54 pivots about the axis formed by the transverse shaft 34 against tension of the spring 76 wherein the idler gear 62 will swing away from and out of meshing engagement with the winch gear 22, thereby permitting the winch 20 to stop and also permitting the cable 12 to be unwound from the drum 20. As the idler gear 62 moves or swings outwardly with the frame members amass- 44 and. 54,. the extension. onthe. rod. 60,..rides.upWiMEdlY.v

against the lower surface of the latch bar 64 until it is received in the notch 68 wherein the latch bar 64 will latch\ or lock the. idler gear. 62 -out; ofr meshingvcngage ment .-=with -the winchgear 22'. thereby: per-mittingtrotation of. the-winch drum. 20: when tension i swplacedr on" the.-

cable 12, thereby permitting.;thecable-12 10 ;be-.unw0und:

position, the flexible line=72nmay be;.,pulled. by the opera.-. tor ofithetdevice, thereby raisingthelatch bar 7,4.r andy.

disengaging. the. recess: 68 from. therod 60, thereby. per.-

mitting athetspr-ing. :7 6;tovurge the-idler gear 62,; into meshe ing engagement with the winch gear 22.. After. thedrum:

20:is.:.actuatcd andz.the--cable 12 is.- being. pulled, theup- Ward thrustzofizthencable 12againstthe. roller 48: will,

retain; .thetidler, gear, 62 securely in. meshing engagement withthewinch gear 22; When the idler -gear.-62. is. not

inxmeshing engagement, and the cable- 12 .isbeing. un-..

wound; the cable-.12 will: engage the roller- 48; for facilitating the unwinding thereof. seen that: thetpresent invention provides an automatically actnatedpower disconnecting devicefor the winding cable.

on pulling; cable 'of thebarn cleaning mechanism.

Theforegoing is considered, as. illustrative only of the Further, since numerous principles: of. the. invention. modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art; it is. not desired. tolimit the. invention Accordingly, it willv be to .the exact. const uc ion nd. pe a on. h wn. d.

scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A drive gear throw-out comprising a horizontal rotatably mounted drive shaft afrarne pivotally mounted on said drive shaft for vertical swinging in opposite directions, and comprising a pair. of laterally. spaced: crossbars on said driveehaft and a third crossbar. on the drive shaft spaced laterally from said pair, a cross shaft at one. side. Qfithe drive. shaftconnecting; said third bar and one bar of thepair, a. drive pinion on said drive shaft between said-third bar and said pair, an idler pinion on said cross shaft in mesh with said drive pinion and engageable with a winch drive gear in response to swinging of said frame in one direction, spring means attached to. said. cross shaft. to. swing said frame. in. said one direction, .a cross rod; on the oppositesiderof the driveshaft connectingt the bars;..of:the pairand. adapted for engage: mentizbyi a; stop. on a. Winch. cable. to. swing. the frame. in the 0pp0$ite ,direction for. disengaging. said idler. gear,

and a pivoted notchedilatch, for, releasably engaging'saidcross'shafa to preyentswirigingof said frame in said oppo site. direction.

ReizerencesCited in -the file, of: this patent.

UNITED. STATES: PATENTS 

